The opening ceremony stage created an artistic space connecting Vietnamese culture with international friends. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)
On the evening of October 1st, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , and the People's Committee of Hanoi City jointly organized the opening ceremony of the second World Culture Festival in Hanoi - 2026 with the theme "Gathering Heritage - Shaping the Future."
Attending the event were Party Central Committee Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, along with other Party Central Committee members: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh; Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang; representatives from central ministries and agencies; Ambassadors, Chargé d'affaires, Heads of diplomatic missions, artists, artisans, and cultural researchers.
A meeting place for cultures
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized that this is a festival of encounter and connection between cultures, spreading the spirit of friendship, creativity, and dialogue for peace and development.
The event is even more significant as it is held in the year commemorating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to UNESCO and right at Thang Long Imperial Citadel – a World Heritage site, one of the typical symbols of the historical depth, cultural vitality, and aspirations for peace and prosperity of the Vietnamese people; a space rich in meaning for cultures to meet, interact, and together preserve, transmit, create, and spread the profound and meaningful message of "Converging Heritage – Shaping the Future."
Party Central Committee Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra attended and delivered a speech. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, heritage is the memory of each nation, the crystallization of intellect, labor, and creativity over thousands of years of history. But heritage does not belong only to the past. Heritage values are present in the present and are an important resource for building the future. Each country and each nation has its own heritage, but when they converge, they blend together, creating diversity in cultural expressions and enriching the treasury of human civilization.
From folk songs, dances, music , and folk performing arts; from costumes, cuisine, and traditional crafts to historical sites, scenic spots, festivals, and folk knowledge... all tell stories about people, culture, homeland, aspirations for life, and the values that generations want to pass on to the future. Therefore, the convergence of heritage is the convergence of people; the convergence of culture is the convergence of the shared values of humanity.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized that Vietnam considers culture both the spiritual foundation of society and an important goal, driving force, and resource for the country. Vietnam continuously builds and promotes an advanced culture rich in national identity; proactively absorbs the finest aspects of human culture, strengthens international exchange and cooperation so that cultural values are transformed into intrinsic strength, promoting rapid and sustainable national development.
Artistic performances during the program. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)
In this journey, preservation must be linked to promotion; tradition must be linked to creativity; heritage must be linked to contemporary life; culture must be linked to people and development; and at the same time, promote the application of science, technology and artificial intelligence to digitize, preserve, restore and promote heritage, bringing genuine cultural values closer to the community, especially the younger generation.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his hope that the festival would not only leave beautiful impressions, but more importantly, spread sustainable values. With the participation of countries, international organizations, artists, artisans, researchers, and the community, the Deputy Prime Minister believes that this year's festival will be a great success, leaving profound impressions and memorable experiences; spreading the values, identity, vitality, and strength of Vietnamese culture; bringing Vietnamese culture closer to the world and the world closer to Vietnam.
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, speaks. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, believes that there is no more suitable space to hold the Festival than Thang Long Imperial Citadel - a site where archaeological layers spanning over a millennium reflect the continuous progress of political and cultural life.
Throughout the four days of the festival, 45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, 19 international performing arts groups, along with film screenings and fashion shows from around the world, will breathe life into this ancient site in ways that its founders never imagined. Celebrating world culture right here, representing the enduring creative journey of a civilization, is a powerful statement about the significance of heritage.
According to Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, with the adoption of the International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development initiative launched by Vietnam, it can be seen that culture is not a luxury. Culture plays an essential role in the development of society, in how communities build resilience, and in how nations find common ground.
“A festival like this offers something that purely policy dialogues cannot: the opportunity to experience a different culture firsthand – through its music, stories, crafts, and how that culture is present in daily life,” Lazare Eloundou Assomo stated.
The festival brings together 50 countries and international organizations.
The second World Culture Festival in Hanoi took place from October 1-4 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel historical site, with the participation of 50 countries and international organizations, offering a rich variety of experiences on a large scale (45 cultural spaces, 35 food stalls, 18 countries registering to screen films, 19 international art troupes with 220 artists from 5 continents).
The presence of many countries demonstrates the widespread appeal of the second World Cultural Festival. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)
This is a bridge that fosters friendship, understanding, and trust among nations, to jointly build a peaceful, humane, and sustainably developed world; to unleash the miraculous power of culture, connecting people with one another, overcoming all distances and differences, so that no border can separate empathy, sharing, and the aspiration for peace.
The opening ceremony brought together numerous renowned artists and prestigious art troupes from Vietnam, as well as international art groups from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Israel, South Korea, Laos, Pakistan, Peru, and Ukraine, creating a diverse and engaging artistic exchange space.
The program guides viewers through a closely interwoven emotional journey. It begins with "Vietnam in Diverse Colors," which fully recreates the identity of 54 ethnic groups through the scene "Mother's Lullaby," a medley of folk songs from the three regions, Hue Royal Court Music, "Song of the Southern Land," and the Quan Ho folk melodies of Bac Ninh.
The program was well-received by the audience. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)
Following this is the "Five Continents Gathering" space, bringing together the vibrant colors of international art troupes, thereby affirming the spirit of respecting the diversity of human cultures.
The opening night concluded brilliantly with vibrant performances by Hoa Minzy, Duc Phuc, Truc Nhan, Ha Myo, and Hoang Bach.
One of the highlights of the program is the 3D mapping display on Doan Mon Gate, offering a stunning visual experience; recreating Vietnamese cultural symbols, heritage, and landscapes in a vibrant, multi-dimensional space.
3D mapping performances at the event. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)
Minh Thu
(Vietnam+)
Vietnamplus.vn
